Townshend Farmers Market seeks vendors for new venue

Organizers are asking those who might be interested to return an application -- available at www.postoilsolutions.org -- by May 15.

The farmers market is scheduled to open June 7 on the lawn of the West Townshend Country Store, where volunteers have created a cafe and market and are hosting regular Friday evening gatherings.

"I’d say this is going to be a wonderful partnership because of the energy that both projects bring to local food," said Sherry Maher, farmers market manager.

The market, which was started by Post Oil Solutions, had been held on Thursdays on the Townshend Common. A few months ago, Post Oil and the West River Community Project announced that the market would be held this year on Fridays at the country store on Route 30 at Windham Hill Road.

"Because of the strong support from the local community for the West River Community Project, both organizations believe that the market will continue to be successful for years to come," the organizations said at the time.

The West River Community Project was founded to save the 165-year-old store building, which had been in danger of shutting. Renovations have resulted in the West Townshend post office moving to the rear of the building to make way for a cafe and market.

Community Project administrators are searching for a manager for the cafe and market. A thrift shop upstairs continues to operate.

On Friday nights, locals gather for pizza baked in an outdoor oven constructed last year behind the store.

"That’s part of the reason that we all settled on Fridays (for the farmers market)," Maher said. "There’s lots of good synergy there."

The farmers market will run from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. each Friday from June 7 to Oct. 11.

Maher is hoping 15 to 20 vendors will sign up.

"Clearly, they won’t all be there every week," Maher said. "I’d say 12 or so on a weekly basis would be wonderful."

She expects that some vendors from the Townshend Common market will come along to the new site.

"There are some new vendors that may join us as well," Maher said. "We’re closer to Wardsboro now."

She stressed that Townshend Farmers Market is for producers only. The market’s application form says "all products sold must be grown, produced or made by the vendor."

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